Leaders in Washington are stepping up economic pressure on Iran but, nearly six months into the conflict, their counterparts in Tehran are showing little sign of compromise. The standoff is shaping public opinion in the US, with a poll suggesting that most Americans expect military involvement to continue long term.
Reuters and research firm Ipsos conducted a survey of more than 1,200 Americans aged 18 and older. It was carried out over four days through August 24.
The poll found that 83 percent of respondents said they expect US military involvement to “go on for an extended period of time.” That figure stood at just 60 percent shortly after the conflict began in early March.
Only 25 percent of respondents said they approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of the situation, while 63 percent said they disapprove. However, among Republican supporters, 62 percent said they approve of Trump’s response.
Mark Brewer, a professor at the University of Maine who studies public opinion and policy, offered NHK his view on what is driving down the poll numbers.
He said: “Probably the biggest reason why is that you know for most Americans, they don’t see really the need for this. They don’t see why, you know, the United States went to war with Iran. I think also a relatively big part of it is the fact that fuel prices are very high right now in the United States. Americans are very cognizant of gasoline prices specifically and energy prices more broadly, and Americans don’t like high gasoline prices.”
He added that soaring energy costs could have an impact on the midterm elections in November.